Oommen Chandy backs KM Mani; rejects Congress leader's suggestion

Thiruvananthapuram: Fully backing Finance Minister KM Mani, facing charges of bribery in the bar scam, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Wednesday rejected a senior Congress leader's suggestion that the FM take rest as he has undergone huge physical and mental strain in the past few months.

"It is not the opinion of the party and ruling UDF", he told reporters during the cabinet briefing here when asked about the Facebook post of Congress leader and KPCC spokesperson Pandhalam Sudhakaran.

Sudhakaran had suggested that Chandy should ask Mani to take a break and temporarily take over the FM portfolio. Making it clear that Congress and UDF are behind 82-year-old Mani, the supremo of Kerala Congress(M),the third largest partner in the Front with nine MLAs, Chandy said "we do not think Mani has done anything wrong".

The KPCC President would voice the opinion of the party and I as the leader and Chairman of UDF', Chandy added. Sudhakaran had also suggested that the FM could utilise that rest period for a 'brilliant comeback' and 'wash away the sins' of the charges against him.

On the CPI(M) led LDF Opposition charge that ruling UDF members 'misbehaved' with their women legislators on March 13 when Mani presented the budget, Chandy said 'by raising the allegation of molestation, Opposition is cutting a ridiculous figure before the people'.

"Opposition actually used women legislators as human shields on budget day', he said, adding they had come to the assembly with a definite plan.

He also challenged the Opposition to come out with any evidence to show that UDF MLAs attacked their legislators. "I am ready to watch video footage of the incident on that day with Opposition members', the CM said and demanded to know why they were not coming forward to watch it.

On the charge of Jameela Prakasam (JDU) that Sivadasan Nair (Congress) touched her in an improper way during the melee in the assembly on March 13, Chandy said, "it is very difficult to believe...how can such a thing happen when there were 1000 persons and 100 television cameras?"

The Opposition was "misusing" safety laws for women to frame UDF members for political gain, he said adding it was very unfortunate.

The assembly witnessed violent incidents on March 13 when Mani presented the budget amid protests by LDF Opposition, which demanded his resignation and insisted he not present it.

The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau had recently registered a case against Mani in connection with the charge that he had accepted bribe from bar owners to renew liquor licences. Both Chandy and Mani have rejected the charges by bar owners, terming them as 'politically motivated'.